I cannot imagine that anyone reading this series so far, has not experienced at least one moment when you’ve seen something that seemed impossible happen. For some of you one thing might have been when the United States put man on the moon. Years ago, there was an article saying that it seemed impossible when Bill Gates’ had a vision for Microsoft of having “a computer on every desk, in every home.” Or Jeff Bezos, from Amazon, setting that company on a path to have “every book, ever published, in any language available for Kindle customers to purchase and begin reading in less than 60 seconds.” Someday people will say, I remember when it seemed impossible that we would ever have a cure for cancer. It seemed impossible that cars would drive themselves. It seemed impossible that Jesus was ever going to come back!

In the scripture from Matthew, the disciples have heard Jesus say some things that seemed impossible. At the end of chapter 18, Jesus says you must forgive your brother’s sin against you how many times? Seven? No, seventy times seven. I picture Peter thinking, impossible. Then in chapter 19, the Pharisees are asking Jesus about divorce, Moses said a man could divorce a woman for any reason. Jesus says, no. No divorce. Unless she’s been unfaithful. And while I don’t want to get sidetracked here, I believe in our understanding of how husbands and wives are to treat each other, we would agree that in cases of abuse, divorce is appropriate. So, Jesus said people should stay married and I picture the disciples thinking, impossible. (And husbands and wives, this is not a good place of an amen – I repeat not a good place.) As a matter of fact in chapter 19, verse 10, the disciples say, it would be better not to get married. If you have to keep each other forever, forget it. That’s impossible.

Then someone whom we call the rich, young ruler, (and for you who don’t know the story, think cocky young dude with a lot of money) comes to ask Jesus what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him part of the Ten Commandments, specifically that part about how you treat others; the rich, perhaps spoiled, young guy says, all this I’ve done from my youth. And Jesus, apparently picking up on his attitude and sensing that the guy places a lot of stock in his possessions, hits the guy where it hurts. Sell all you have and give it to the poor, then your treasure will be in heaven, then come follow me.

Don’t get lost here thinking everyone is called to sell everything and give it to the poor. Luke 19 tells of another rich man, Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus said he said he was going to give part of his wealth away and Jesus approved.

So back to the rich young guy, he walks away sad, not willing to do what Jesus required.

I said Jesus hits the guy where it hurts. Jesus has this habit of requiring of people what’s most precious to them.

Whatever it is that you want to hold onto more than anything else – If you were the person who went to Jesus is this scripture, His answer would have been that thing. Perhaps, it is money. Perhaps, it is control. Perhaps, it is anger. Whatever it is that you want to hold on to, He says, let go of that, and hold onto Me. It’s never the easy stuff, it’s the hard stuff. You might say the “impossible for me” thing.

And just to make sure that His disciples get it, because they have proven time and again they’re not necessarily the brightest, He says, it is harder for a camel, the largest animal they had back then, to get through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Now when you go over to Israel today, when you get to the Church of the Nativity, the guides show you a little sub-gate under the gate into the church. And they tell you that that little sub-gate was called the eye of the needle, and that in the gates of the cities they always had this little sub-gate, which was called the eye of the needle. In order to get the camel through it, they had to take all of the burden of the camel’s back, and it had to get down on the ground. And a couple guys behind him pushing, and one guy in front of it pulling, to get it to squeeze through this eye of the needle in the gate. And they say that’s what Jesus was talking about.

I find that interesting. They make it a possibility if you struggle hard enough, and if you grunt and groan enough, you can actually save yourself. A lot of people would like to have you think that. But Jesus points out that that is entirely false. He is talking not about some little gate that you can, by a lot of effort, and grunts and groans squeeze and get through. He is talking about an eye of a needle, that a woman is sewing with, and you trying to get a camel through that? And that’s why the disciples said, “Lord, who then can be saved?” and note, Jesus said what, “With man it is impossible.” Remember that.

He didn’t say, “You got to strain. You got to struggle. You got to grunt and groan, give it your best.” He is saying, “It’s impossible.” Man cannot save himself. The moralist cannot save himself. No man by good works can save himself. No man by a good work can inherit age-abiding, eternal life. It is a gift of God, and it is only wrought by a miracle of God in our hearts and lives. For though it is impossible with men, with God all things are possible.

Some people have impossibilities they’re facing. Some of you have impossibilities you’re facing. From our human perspective and abilities, we say IMPOSSIBLE. And God says to you and to me, you’re wrong. Nothing is impossible with Jesus. With Jesus, ALL Things are possible.

Maybe you have a bill due, maybe you have a marriage on the rocks, maybe you have a family situation that is without a solution, maybe you have an unhealthy addiction, maybe you have an anger issue, maybe you suffer from abuse, maybe you are afraid to step out in faith. We know from experience that on our own, at times forgiveness is impossible. On our own, these things are impossible.

Jesus said to the disciples, and says to you and to me, on your own, you are right… there are some things that are impossible.

And Lord knows, you’ve tried…

over and over and over

Do you have an impossibility in your life?

Do you know our God is the God of the possible. He is the God of Hope and the only place in the Bible that He’s called that is in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of Hope fill you will all peace in believing as you trust in Him.”

Jesus says, you are not alone. I am with you. Don’t be afraid. And don’t worry. Don’t worry about tomorrow, don’t worry about what you’re going to eat, don’t worry about where you’re going to sleep, don’t worry about what others do to you. You just give it all to God and he will provide the way. Don’t worry if people take advantage of you, don’t hold a grudge.

How is that possible? It is impossible from the world’s perspective.

Impossible that God came to earth in the form Of Jesus; Impossible that Jesus would die on the cross for our sin. Impossible that “…by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you can been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:8-10

I pray you see the hope and comfort in this message. True. God Can Do ALL Things!

In my last post on this series I gave you a brief breakdown of how I KNOW that God can do ALL things.

I will share my testimony with you once again. Obviously, it will not be completed until I return to my heavenly home. Ponder my Diminishing Shadows…

I was born in Orange California in 1958. When I was 1 ½ years old my biological mother took my grandfather’s car and abandoned my dad, 2 half-brothers and I. She had an affair with a friend of my dad’s and moved to Illinois. After six weeks or so my dad and grandpa went to bring the car back. Dad took my brothers to their grandma’s house and proceeded to get sole custody of me; very rare for the courts to award custody to the father in 1960. For approximately four years dad raised me on his own with the help of my grandma and aunt. In 1964 he married the woman I call mom, and I gained a mother and brother.

For many years I knew something was different but couldn’t put my hand on what it was. When I was twelve I was caught shoplifting at our city mall. I was not arrested, but my dad was furious. My mom was much more gracious.

On my thirteenth birthday my childhood best friend and I spent the night with my paternal (biological) grandparents. I asked my grandma if mom was in fact my biological mother. Grandma told me to talk to my dad. I told her I was asking her because I knew she wouldn’t lie to me. So I found out the truth. When my mom found out that my grandma told me the truth she banned me from seeing my grandma until I was eighteen. Our next door neighbors arranged for my grandma and I to meet at a shopping mall in Costa Mesa. I was elated. Dad knew that I was meeting her and never said a word to my mom. She did find out later, when I was seventeen and they almost divorced over it.

On February 20, 1973, when I was fourteen, a friend in Jr High invited me to go to church with her. We watched a movie entitled “A Thief in the Night.” To this day I love the song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” Afterwards, Billy Graham gave the invitation to accept Jesus in my heart and I responded. The following evening my brother joined us and also gave his life to Jesus.

I counseled teenage new believers whenever Billy was in town. He was an amazing man, so loving and gentle spirited. I also became active in our church choir. Our choir, Presbyterian Youth Chorale traveled every summer to sing for various churches across the United States. My new best friend and I had Bible studies in the hay loft above her family’s garage. We named are secret meeting place “Bethel,” which means “House of God.”

That same year I ended up in the ER for severe stomach pain. The doctors told my dad that I had gonorrhea. He told them he would bet his life I didn’t. After evaluating me and taking x-rays, the doctor told him that I had endometriosis and needed to go to a gynecologist. So I did, and was told I could never have babies. I was devastated, as I had baby sat since I was nine, and loved children. After graduating from High School and attending one year of junior college, I became pregnant. I was engaged to the father of the baby and my dad told him that he would marry me. Against my beliefs, I got an abortion. A couple weeks afterwards when I used the bathroom a little limb came out of me. Instead of getting help I turned to drugs.

I started working for a floor covering company and ended up having an affair with my boss. He was married with three beautiful daughters and one on the way at the time. Even worse, we discussed having an affair. He eventually divorced his wife and we were married after living together for over two years. By now I had an addiction to cocaine and overdosed on my birthday in 1984. We both quit drugs and became involved in ministry at Calvary. My dad never accepted him. Then, two years later I had another affair, and after marriage counselling we my husband and I decided to separate. I am thankful that he has forgiven me, to this day we are friends.

I met a man in 1987, and began dating him. I became pregnant again, not knowing who the father was, my husband or boyfriend. After talking to them both about the situation, I chose to keep the baby and be a single mom. The baby belonged to my boyfriend.

In 1991, my half-sister was murdered in Nevada and when I came home after her funeral, I again became pregnant with a girl. Her father wanted me to abort, but this time I refused and chose to keep her. My son’s dad said he would adopt her, that way she and our son would both have a dad who loved them, and the same last name. Eight and one half months later my son and I were in a car accident only one block from our home. The police offered to take me to the hospital, but I chose not to go as I felt her moving and had a doctor’s appointment the next morning. When my doctor examined me, there was no heart beat from my baby. Labor was induced and five hours later Alexandra was still born. The placenta was lodged in my left rib cage and I had emergency surgery, and given a couple units of blood. By this time, I was attending Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa again and Pastor Carl led the funeral service. I have never gotten over this completely. The loss of a child is difficult to accept. I take comfort, however, in knowing that she is in heaven and has never had to encounter the horrific things this world avails.

Angry at God, I again backslid, this time I did even stronger drugs and led a very promiscuous lifestyle. This led to me getting date raped three months after the loss of my daughter and again had an abortion, even though it was against my beliefs. I tried to justify it with the fact that I was raped.

Later that year I began dating a man and it lasted four years. In 1996, I again became pregnant and made the decision to abort. After the fact, I found out that my boyfriend would have married me and wanted the baby.

In 1997, I rededicated my life to the Lord and my son was saved the following weekend. God is so good. We were baptized together by Pastor Chuck Smith at Pirates Cove, San Clemente. Papa Chuck told me that this time I was going to serve my Lord. This is a day I will never forget as my son and I were baptized together at the same time. It was awesome! We went on a retreat shortly thereafter and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! I now began counseling new believers every Sunday and Monday evening at Calvary and annually at the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim. My precious son hung out with the Christian artists that led worship on these occasions and became really close to most of them…Phil Keaggy, Crystal Lewis, The Kry, OC Supertones, Dennis Agajanian, Two or More, and DC Talk. I met my second husband while counseling. Unbeknownst to me he and my son had been hanging out for six months while I was counseling. We were married exactly one year to the day from my son’s and my baptisms. After only a year we were having problems; My husband at the time was very controlling and I was a strong-willed woman. February 2000, I had a nervous breakdown at work and was placed in a state mental facility for 2 weeks, from my recollection. When I came home I began cutting myself by slashing my wrists. My husband would not let me see any of my family or talk to them, and would tie me to my son’s bed with neckties while waiting for the police to arrive. In July the same year we moved to Indiana and things just got worse. My husband would not hold a job and was verbally and mentally abusing me to the point of my continued self-mutilating, and several attempts at suicide. I was placed in the mental unit at our hospital several times because of this. My doctor did not trust my husband, and honored my wishes to keep him away from me while I was hospitalized. At this time, I was on 17 different medications and was hardly able to function. At night, my husband would whisper in my ear that if I ever left him he would find and kill me. But God was still in control, and I met my best friend who is still my spiritual sister. She has had cancer in several parts of her body for 16 years and has a Soon after moving to North Salem, IN in 2001, I began a youth ministry, “Solid Rock.” The board gave us a generous budget for our teens. In 2003, I finally quit cutting myself and attempting suicide.

In 2004, my dad became sick with lung cancer while my mom was living in Memphis with her sister for close to eleven years. That summer when my son went to visit his dad in California, they stopped by to check on my dad and called to inform me of my dad’s illness. I called my mom who told me he was fine. Prior to this, I had two pulmonary embolisms, blood clots in my lungs, had carpal tunnel surgery and also had my ankle rebuilt after several sprains. That November, one week after my ankle surgery, my mom called and informed me that my dad was dying, and my son and I had a plane ticket waiting for us at Indianapolis International Airport that was to leave the very next morning. A couple days later dad was sent home with a diagnosis of six months to live. Five days later he died, while my son was headed back home to Indiana. After attending my dad’s funeral, I also flew home to Indiana.

I started attending Lakeview Christian Church in Indianapolis, an AG affiliate, I was teaching second grade Sunday school and counseling teens. My husband began having an affair with my coworker, and I took the opportunity to file for divorce. My amazing son and his best friend came and moved me back to California in 2009. I rented a house from a lady over the phone, little did I know how important she would become to my life. We are still very close, and she now lives in Kentucky.

I found out in 2011 that I was the victim of identity theft and the culprit was my ex-husband. My cousin passed in 2011 with complications from colon cancer. Praise God that my spiritual sister led him to the Lord.

In 2013 I was living with my mom when Irvine PD informed me that my now ex-husband was in town. His name showed up because he received a traffic citation. My brother chose to believe rumors about me imposed by another family member, and on Christmas Eve my brother and sister-in-law evicted me from my mother’s home while she was in the hospital. I moved in with my son and daughter-in-law for a couple of months. They had just married that August. God gave me Psalm 42:8 for comfort:

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me —

A prayer to the God of my life.

In February 2014, I moved to Missouri to start over. My son and daughter-in law, along with my spiritual sister were the only ones who knew where I was. In October 2014, I married my soul mate and best friend. The following Spring, 2015, I received a phone call from my mom and she and my brother and sister in law apologized with tears for what they did to me. God always has a way of making things right. It has taken me all this time to truly forgive my ex-husband. Only because God made it possible for me to do so. I can honestly say that if I were to see him again, I would thank him as I have never been happier or closer to God. My son and daughter-in-law visited us Christmas, 2015, for the duration of four days. Upon returning to California, my son expressed, “Mom you left everything behind and God has blessed you tenfold.” No words have ever been truer from his precious mouth.

Despite my efforts to be rebellious, God has always been there, placing amazing people in my path. He has given my husband and I this ministry to reach out to others who need Him.

So, it is true, with God ALL things are possible! I am living proof.

If you have a testimony you would like to share, please contact us. We would love to use on this site with your permission. We can be reached through our email address: outofseasonministries@outlook.com

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Either you believe the Bible is completely true from Genesis to Revelation, or you do not. If in fact, you do believe this, why do you doubt God’s ability to help you in your time of need? If you do not believe this truth, then you should!

I will be doing a series on many things that cannot be explained except for this truth.

In 1991 , after the loss of my baby girl, due to an auto accident while I was eight months pregnant, I fell into a deep depression. I was a Christian, so why did God allow this to happen? Now, I look at this from a different perspective. My daughter went immediately to Heaven and has never had to encounter the horrific things of this world we live in.

In 2000, I suffered from a nervous breakdown, at work, nonetheless. A very devastating time for myself and my family. After several years of self mutilating, severe depression, anxiety disorder, and suicidal tendencies, I cried out to God with my whole heart and he healed me. God assures me, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’ Jeremiah 33:3 and again in Jeremiah 29:12-13, “Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. 13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Be blessed in knowing that as a child of God if you, “Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. 9 Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].” James 4:8-10

Still not convinced? How about putting God to the test? You heard me correctly. Read His Word. Talk to Him. I guarantee you will be changed forever.

“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

I would love to hear from you. If you need prayer, I am here for you. I have provided a Prayer Request Journal on this site for you to utilize, and/or you may email me at outofseasonministries@outlook.com

The answer is clearly, “no.” This is the same answer for all human beings . However, God has big plans for us “nobodies.” Take a moment and grasp this amazing truth: Jesus is attracted to you. He loves to be needed by people like you and I who are absolutely convinced of our own inadequacies. People who know that without His unmerited generosity toward us, we would be and have nothing.

The Scriptures show us that Jesus was unusually attracted to people who had emptiness in their lives. Not just sometimes, but often. Losers and loners, the sick and the lame, the weak and the hungry. These were the ones He came for and whose needs He met. These were the ones He chose as His disciples. Those who had no fortune, no social standing, no special talents and no promising future.

Do not let your own exaggerated sense of your own inabilities or status keep you from the blessed life in Christ Jesus. You can change and leave that prideful trap behind. The very fact that you are so keenly aware of your weaknesses and limitations makes you a most promising candidate for God’s very best.

From the very dawn of time, your heavenly Father has know you and loved you, He is not waiting for you to get it together. He is waiting for you to come to Him with open, empty hands.

If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.” ~ Betty Reese

Won’t you come to Jesus now and invite Him in to your heart? Just say this simple prayer

God I am sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sin. Jesus, I ask You to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord, my Savior and my friend., Help me to follow You all the days of my life as Your disciple. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and receiving me right now at this very moment. Thank You that my sin is forgiven and that I am going to spend eternity with You in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Woo hoo! Welcome to the family of God. Please contact us here at Out of Season Ministries if we can help you in your walk with Jesus.

Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!” John 7:37

The thirst that Jesus is referring to is not a physical thirst, or an emotional thirst, but that deep thirst in the spirit of man for God. Way down deep in every man there is that thirst, that need for a meaningful relationship with God. It does not matter who you are, what your background is, or where you are, every man deep down inside has the thirst for God. There are people who try to cover it. They try to cover it with a facade. They try to put on show, an act, a display. They try to put on a grandiose kind of a front, like, “I’ve got it made, there’s no problems. I don’t need any help. I can do it on my own.” But down deep inside there’s a cry for a meaningful relationship with God.

Classic example is the woman at the well there in Samaria who was so smart and chic and clever in her answers with Jesus, until finally He removed her mask. And He said to her, “Yes, you’ve told the truth when you say you don’t have a husband, because in reality you have had five husbands and the man you presently living with, you never did bother to get married to him.” And He had ripped off her mask, and she said, “Sir, I perceive you’re a prophet. Our fathers say we’re to worship God in these mountains and You say in Jerusalem, but where can I find God?” Hey, down deep in every heart that’s the question. Where can I find God? Man is thirsting in his spirit after God. Now we try often to fill this thirst with physical things, but it never works.

The reason behind the pleasure mania in the United States today is that people are trying to somehow satisfy the deep spiritual thirst within. People try to satisfy it with emotional experiences, and really that’s one of the big causes of the drug abuse. It’s one of the causes of alcoholism. It is interesting that Paul the apostle associates alcoholism with being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18, “Be not drunk with wine where in excess, but filled with the Spirit.” Paul associates the two, why? Because there is a definite relationship. What is a man searching after when he turns to the bottle and becomes an alcoholic? What is he looking for? He’s looking for some kind of inner satisfaction of peace. A peace of mind. He’s looking for the capacity to cope. What does a man find when he is filled with the Spirit? He finds a peace of mind. He finds the capacity to cope. He finds a fullness and a satisfaction. It is only proper that Paul would relate those two things, which on the surface seems so diverse, but when you get underneath you’re dealing with the same issues–man’s thirst. Sadly man has misdirected this attempt to fill his thirst.

So, Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” And there you have the gospel in its simplest terms. That’s it. That’s what the gospel is all about. For that man who is seeking in his spirit for a meaningful relationship with God he can find it when he comes to Jesus Christ. You have a thirst deep inside. You need God. Jesus tells you, “I understand your need, come unto Me and drink.”

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

The key is believing (trusting) in Jesus. That’s the provision that God has required for those to be born again. You are born again when you, by faith, believe in Jesus Christ, that He bore God’s judgment for your sins in His death upon the cross, and you receive Him into your life. You are then born again by the Spirit of God and have become now a new creature in Jesus Christ, a son of God, a child of the King. Believing in Him, that is the key.

Then Jesus went on to declare to Nicodemus,

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

I do not know why we always seem to picture Christ as condemning us. Well, I guess it’s because we’re so guilty all the time. But we always are thinking of Him in that posture of condemning. “You,” you know, “you’re doing it again!” And we’re always thinking of Him in that posture of condemning. But Paul the apostle asked the rhetorical question in Romans 8, “Who is he that condemneth?” And then he answers, “Not Jesus! For He died for us; ye, rather is risen again and is even at the right hand of the Father making intercession.” God didn’t send Him into the world to condemn the world. Jesus hasn’t come to condemn you. Jesus has come to save you. “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” He didn’t need to come to condemn, because the world is already condemned.

He that believeth in him is not condemned. John 3:18

Oh, did you hear that? Do you believe that? “He that believeth in Him is not condemned.” What a glorious message of God’s grace to us tonight! That ought to thrill your soul beyond measure! “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who believe in Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:1). Isn’t that what it says? Do you believe it? Why is it that we are always going around condemning ourselves? Why is it that we are always going around feeling so defeated and so discouraged, when there is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus? For he that believeth in Him is not condemned; however, he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

What is His name? Yeshua, the Lord is salvation. Jesus came to save. That’s what His name implies. “Thou shalt call His name Yeshua, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He did not come to condemn, He came to save. His name implies His mission. Jesus declared it plainly. He said, “I have come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Now, “he that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

And what is the condemnation?

that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be manifested. But he that doeth the truth comes to the light, that his deeds might be made manifested, that they are wrought in God. John 3:19-21

What is the condemnation? That men won’t come to the light, Yeshua (Jesus).

The key: Believe in and trust Jesus. He is all you will ever need. Halleluyah!

I dedicate this post to my daughter, Alexandra Rose, who has been in heaven with Jesus for close to twenty six years. I never had the chance to show her how much I loved her. She died in my womb when I was 8 months pregnant. due to an automobile accident.

If you are currently an abuser of children. STOP! Listen to Jesus! For those who have been abused as children, I pray God’s healing and anointing on you right now this very moment. Call to Jesus, and He will hear you. Feel free to contact me if I can pray for you or help in either situation. My information is located on my contact page on this website. God bless you, and may you and yours have a very A Merry and Blessed Christmas. Remember….Jesus is the reason we celebrate! Jesus loves you!

But He said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and He said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14

But Jesus called them to Himself, saying [to the apostles], “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16

Spiritual Abuse is real. There are several ways in which abuse can be spiritual abuse. People use this term with a variety of meanings and it is quite important to keep track of which definition people have in mind.

There is a sense in which all abuse can be spiritual abuse. For example, any form of child abuse can do damage to a child’s emerging spirituality. The fact that the damage includes damage to the spiritual self is what makes it spiritual abuse in addition to whatever other kind of abuse is going on.

Some abuse is spiritual abuse because it takes place in a spiritual place/context. Sexual abuse by a priest or pastor, for example, is clearly a form of spiritual abuse in addition to sexual abuse.

The use of spiritual truths or biblical texts to do harm is another form of spiritual abuse. Sometimes battered wives are told that God wants them to be submissive to their husbands. Sometimes children who are being molested by their parents are told that God wants them to be obedient. Sometimes people quote “do not think of yourself more highly that you ought” to suicidally depressed people. These are examples of abuse–even if what is said is a quote from the Bible, even if ‘submission’ and ‘obedience’ are in a general, sense virtues. It is the twisting of good things to do harm that is so disturbing about this kind of abuse.

Some abuse is spiritual abuse because the victim is perceived to be in a position of spiritual authority. Think here, for example, of the abuse of pastors by congregations. The real power in religious systems may not be in the hands of the obvious leadership.

Coercive spirituality is a form of spiritual abuse. This is most obvious in totalitarian cults. But there are many other forms of coercion. Compulsive religious practices are thought by some to be appropriate forms of Christian education of children. Others more committed to the notions of ‘soul freedom’ and ‘liberty of conscience’ are repelled at the idea of religious coercion.

Some abuse is spiritual abuse because it invokes divine authority to manipulate people into performing behaviors which meet the needs of the abuser. Example: If I am anxious in my relationship with God and I think that ‘success’ in evangelistic activities will solve that problem, then I may try to get someone to convert so that I will feel less anxious. This ‘using’ of someone else’s spiritual life to meet my spiritual needs is uncomfortably analogous to someone who ‘uses’ another person’s sexuality to meet their own needs. The latter is sexual abuse. The former is spiritual abuse.

Some abuse is spiritual abuse because it introduces a grace-less contingency in our relationship with God. This form of spiritual abuse is one of the central preoccupations of the New Testament text. Consider Jesus’ harsh comments about those who ‘lay burdens’ on others — those who make God’s love contingent on spiritual practices of one kind or another.

Biblical references on spiritual abuse

Spiritual abuse as speaking for God when God has not spoken
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’-when the LORD has not spoken.
Ezekiel 22:28

Spiritual abuse as adding burdens
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:4

“why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?”
Acts 15:10

Spiritual Abusers as Ravenous wolves
“Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15

Spiritual Abusers as Whitewashed tombs
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside, are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
Matthew 23

Spiritual Abusers as “Brood of vipers”
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?”
Matthew 23:33

Spiritual Abusers as “Blind guides”
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”
Matthew 23:23-24

The most important strategy for beating temptation is avoid it all together. Stay out of the contest. Do not even go near it. As humans we like to play with danger, to have options, and take trouble head-on, because we believe that we can always pack on more power than our opponents. Not true!
With these temptations our instincts get us into trouble. You see, temptation pits us against our own sin nature and all the powers of evil. Just look around you. Sin weakens us and compromises our ability to receive God’s favor that He wants to give us.
Ponder this thought, we would never sin if we were never tempted. Stay away from the deceptive tactics of Satan whenever possible. Eve would not have eaten the forbidden fruit if she stayed away from the forbidden tree. The same is true for us.
For example, I overcame drug addiction. And because I have decided not to smoke pot, or use any other recreational drugs, I avoid places that are prone to have drugs available; parties and friends that use drugs. Someone who has overcome drunkenness will tell you that having decided not to drink, they stay out of bars, liquor stores, and away from drinking friends.
Someone who struggles with pornography has stated that he had started pulling into an adult video store on his way home from work. It had now become a habit. He was asked “is there another route you can take to get home?” He admitted that he never considered that option, but also watched trashy shows on HBO while his wife was sleeping at night. “Do you really want to quit?“ he was asked. He answered in the affirmative. He was advised to cancel his subscription to HBO. He did, and now enjoys sleeping with his wife in peace.
When you are ready to quit something that is ruining your life, you will do whatever necessary to remove that sin. But know this, it is refreshing to know that if you ask God to help you avoid evil, He will. He is your Father and watches out for you even when you do not. Just ask Him and He will tell you where not to go.
The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “13 No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”
Imagine for a minute that you are standing in front of your home and see a stranger coming up your street. He is dressed in black and walks in your direction. You notice that he is checking mailboxes and house numbers. You realize that this figure is here to do you harm, so you suck behind some bushes. A soon as the stranger finds your address, he steps up to your door and knocks.
As you watch, the door opens, and you see something remarkable. The person answering the door is Jesus.
The stranger hesitates, “Excuse me, but isn’t this the house of _____?” And he speaks your name.
Jesus replies, “As a matter of fact, it is. But My friend has asked Me to guard the door.”
The stranger tense, grinds his teeth, and seems to consider forcing his way in. Then he looks down at the hand on the knob. He sees the nail scars. He glances up at Jesus’ head and the marks left by the thorns.
And the stranger scowls as he turns away…
This is a defensive measure used by Martin Luther, the reat reformed of the sixteenth century, when he faced temptaions of all kinds. On the front lines of a spiritual awakening that wa shaking the world. Luther felt himself under constant attack. His story of Jesus answering the door of his home when temptation came calling had a specific purpose. It was his way of meditating on a powerful truth about Christ’s power to help us escape temptation. “Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18.
This is the wonderful escape clause in 1 Corinthians 10:13. In His faithfulness, God pledges to not allow any temptation to push you beyond your ability to resist.
How do I use this? I say aloud, “This temptation to (name of sin) is not too strong for me, because my Father has limited it to what I am able to cope with right now; the truth of it is that there is a way out of this temptation, and God will not allow it to overpower me!”
You see my friend, God will help you in your temptation. He will open the way for you to escape.
If you do not already have a personal relationship with God, and desire one, why not prayer this prayer:
God I’m sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sin. Jesus, I ask You to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord, Savior, and friend. Help me to follow You all the days of my life as Your disciple. Thank You for forgiving me and receiving me right now. Thank You that my sin is forgiven and that I’m going to Heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Perhaps you have strayed from Jesus Christ. You have been a prodigal son or daughter. God will forgive you right now if you will return to Him. He tells us in Scripture, “My wayward children, come back to Me and I will heal your wayward hearts” (Jeremiah 3:22, If you would like to return to God and rededicate your life to Him right now, you may want to pray like this:
God I’m sorry for my sin. I’m, sorry that I have strayed from You. I ask You to forgive me now as I repent of my sin. I don’t want to live like a prodigal any longer. Renew and revive me as I once again follow You as my God. Thank You for Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.